New Faculty

Dr. Jahrul Alam

Department of Mathematics and
Statistics

Dr. Jahrul Alam joined the Department of Mathematics and
Statistics as an assistant professor in August 2008. Originally
from Bangladesh, he began his Canadian studies at the University of
Alberta where he obtained a master’s degree in computational
fluid dynamics. He also holds a PhD in computational mathematics,
with a specialization in turbulence, from McMaster University and
completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Earth and Environmental
sciences at the University of Waterloo.

His current scientific interests concern modelling, computing and
understanding fluid dynamics problems that are challenging in
environmental, aeronautical and industrial applications.
Specifically, he is focused on developing an integrated modelling
and computing framework for explaining global warming and climate
change issues.

“There are lots of uncertainties and difficulties that need
to be resolved before we are able to accurately predict
climate,” said Dr. Alam. “The atmosphere – where
we breath and live – is very complex. I am working to develop
a technique using advanced computer models for predicting future
climate by understanding turbulent flows in the atmosphere. This
new approach will use wavelets – a mathematical microscope
– to calculate highly localized active motions of the
atmosphere, and this would be a significant contribution at
Memorial as a new research direction.”

Living in Newfoundland and Labrador is giving Dr. Alam a new
perspective on his chosen area of research.

“The weather here is a bit unstable but I like that,”
he explained. “Many other regions don’t see this much
moisture and moisture is something we currently can’t model
appropriately. This is a challenging issue. If we cannot model
moisture then we do not know how it is going to affect our climate.
I enjoy St. John’s because of its natural beauty and
intermittent weather changes.”

Dr. Alam was recently awarded a NSERC discovery grant and two new
graduate students will join his research group in fall 2009.

Dr. Jacqueline Blundell

Department of
Psychology

Dr. Jacqueline Blundell joined the Faculty of Science in September
as an assistant professor with the Department of Psychology.

Originally from St. John’s, she graduated with an honours
degree in Chemistry at Dalhousie University before returning to
Newfoundland to complete an honours degree in Psychology. Dr.
Blundell then went on to complete her masters and PhD at Memorial
under the supervision of Dr. Bob Adamec, followed by a postdoctoral
fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Centre.

Dr. Blundell is thrilled for the opportunity to return to Memorial
University – this time on the opposite side of the desk.

“It’s been an odd transition going from being a student
to most of these people to now being their colleague,” she
said. “But everyone’s been so nice.”

Dr. Blundell’s research centres on understanding the
behavioural and neuroplastic changes that are involved in affective
and cognitive disorders, with an overall goal to make a significant
contribution in advancing the treatment of neuropsychiatric
illness.

“I am interested in understanding the behavioural and
molecular changes in brain that underlie anxiety and
depression,” she explained. “With a better
understanding of the brain my hope is to one day develop
therapeutic agents to treat these disorders.”

One particular area of interest is studying the effects of
anti-anxiety and antidepressant medication on teens.

“Given the dramatic increase in prescribed anti-anxiety and
antidepressant medication for this population, and the fact that
the developing brain is very different than a mature brain, I think
this is a critical area of research,” said Dr. Blundell.
“Changes in the brain that happen during puberty may be
affected by those drugs and I’m interested in proceeding in
that area. In addition, I’d like to research the effects of
stressful environments on children and whether or not they cause
people to be more anxious as adults.”

Dr. Ian Glew

Faculty of Business
Administration

At first glance it may seem unusual to have a professional engineer
with more than 15 years experience in Canada’s chemical
industry teaching finance, but when Dr. Ian Glew began working on
his MBA in finance at Queen’s University, it was an
eye-opening experience.

“I realized when I started my MBA that there was a natural
fit between statistics, which is my background, and finance,”
Dr. Glew explained. “Finance is intensely math driven, so I
look at it as a transfer of my skill set rather than a major change
of interest.” After earning his MBA, Dr. Glew went on to
complete a PhD. in finance. His research focuses on income trusts,
corporate financing and asset pricing.

Dr. Glew said a supportive research culture was one of the reasons
he came to Memorial. “Academically, Memorial has a great
research character – and it is getting stronger monthly. The
university has a great reputation.”

In the classroom, Dr. Glew tries to use real world examples to make
the study of finance more interesting and relevant to students.
“When you walk into a finance classroom and see equations on
a board, it isn’t meaningful to students,” he said.
“I try to bridge the gap between financial theory and real
world applicability, so I talk about interest rates and mortgages
and introduce students to the areas where finance applies to their
life.”

Dr. Robert Scott

Division of Social Science

It’s no surprise that Dr. Robert Scott has found
his way to western Newfoundland and the incredible outdoor
lifestyle it offers. The Port Rowan, Ont., native grew up on in a
town of about 800 on the north shore of Lake Erie, where there were
plenty of opportunities for adventures in the wilds.

The draw to Grenfell College was the environment in which the
campus is situated, he added.

“I don’t have to travel half way across the continent
to do research. Here there’s lots of opportunity to conduct
my research locally, plus it’s a beautiful place to live and
raise kids.”

Dr. Scott holds a bachelor of science from the University of
Western Ontario, in London, Ont., a master of science from the
University of Guelph and a doctorate from Clark University in
Worcester, Mass. Following his PhD he completed a one-year
post-doctoral research position at the University of Guelph, after
which he worked at the University of Western Ontario for seven
years as an assistant professor in the Biology Department.

Dr. Scott’s research interests lie in the realms of pure
ecology and applied ecology.

“With regard to the pure research component, I am interested
in how variability in physical characteristics among lakes
influences local populations of fish,” he explained.
“In particular, I investigate adaptation of local fish
populations with regard to behaviour (mate competition, mate
choice, parental care) and life history (growth rate, age of
reproduction, fertility) traits. On the applied side, my interests
focus on the impact of human activities on lake ecosystems.
Specifically, I have worked on Atlantic salmon restoration ecology
and on the impacts of mining on fish communities.”

Dr. Scott said his future research will examine impacts of forest
harvest on fish life history traits and mercury contamination in
fish populations in western Newfoundland.

Dr. Heather Hair

School of Social Work

­­Dr. Heather Hair joined the School of Social Work in the
fall of 2008 and couldn’t be happier with her appointment as
assistant professor. The Montreal native says she is putting down
roots in this province and isn’t about to go anywhere.

Dr. Hair says the opportunities as an academic in this province are
“endless,” and intends to put her extensive knowledge
and expertise to great use. With a BA in psychology from Concordia
University, a master’s in community psychology from Wilfrid
Laurier University, a master’s in marriage and family therapy
from the University of Guelph and a PhD in social work from Wilfrid
Laurier as well, Dr. Hair is in good stead.

There are three areas in which Dr. Hair wishes to develop her
specialty: supervision for post-degree social work practitioners,
children’s mental health (practice and policy development)
and the qualities of helping conversations that encourage growth
and change.

She was attracted to Memorial because of the accessibility to
decision-makers in the province and for the opportunities to create
collaborative relationships with community partners. She is already
involved on a research review team, as well as consulting on the
development of two new residential treatment centers for high-risk
youth. Citing “big growth” in the School of Social Work
– Dr. Hair is one of several new additions to teaching staff
in recent months – she says she is excited at the prospect of
contributing to the development of the social work profession in
this province.

“I have the opportunity to teach at the bachelor’s,
master’s and PhD level here. So I not only have an
opportunity to shape future practitioners, but also to really shape
the service provision for the lives of children, youth and
families, which is really what keeps me motivated in this.”